Ebensburg rec director used to ‘wearing many hats’

Johnson

EBENSBURG — Ebensburg Borough Recreation Director Dirk Johnson began his next chapter as Westmont Hilltop Recreation Commission’s executive director in May but has managed two jobs while Ebensburg borough officials search for his replacement.

As the recreation director, a role he began in May 2017, Johnson is responsible for maintaining the Young Peoples Community Center, the Ebensburg Tennis Center, Lake Rowena, the borough’s swimming pool and multiple playgrounds.

Borough officials have narrowed down two candidates for Johnson’s replacement,

Borough Manager Kelly Cook said during the June 24 council meeting.

Last week, the candidates received a second-round interview, but the position has not been offered to either candidate as of Friday, officials said.

Cook said she’s hoping the successful candidate will be offered the position with enough time to work alongside Johnson before his departure at the end of summer.

Johnson said it might take a couple weeks before the successful candidate can begin working for the borough, but he plans to help Ebensburg through this year’s pool season since he has the necessary certifications required to run the public swimming pool.

“The plan is to be there as long as they need me,” he said, adding he is enjoying his new job in Westmont.

One of his biggest motivations behind taking the job in Westmont was the opportunity to start with “a clean slate,” Johnson said, noting the commission’s objective is to build a new facility for the residents of the Westmont Hilltop region.

“They don’t have the facilities like we do in Ebensburg,” he said. “They want to get an all-inclusive facility built for the public up here as well as the schools, too.”

In addition to his two jobs, Johnson is a PIAA-certified soccer official who serves as president of the Red Devils Hockey Organization in Ebensburg and treasurer of the Cresson Lake Playhouse’s board of trustees.

Many borough officials, like Community Development Director Danea Koss, have commended Johnson for his time-management skills and his ability to do all aspects of his job efficiently and effectively.

“He’s well-respected, dependable and I’m not sure he ever sleeps or takes a day off,” Koss said, adding Johnson “wears many hats” and has a great working relationship with a lot of the local clubs and organizations. “I have no doubt Dirk will be successful.”

Director of Tennis Jamie Taylor said he’s known Johnson for nearly two decades.

“He’s been instrumental in so much of the success the tennis center has had,” he said, adding Johnson is “incredibly thorough and aware of everything that goes on” and understands the importance of what recreation facilities offer communities.

“He’s able to go above and beyond what’s expected of him to have the tennis center excel and succeed,” Taylor said. “I feel that’s a testament to his character and who the guy is.

“I feel like a lot of other people in his position might not feel as committed to making sure things go according to plan in Ebensburg with another job in play,” Taylor said.

Ebensburg Borough has had a number of great recreation directors over the years, but Johnson is one of — if not the best — the borough has ever had, said Philip Woo, a past chairman and active member of the borough’s recreation board.

“He did a lot of things he didn’t have to,” Woo said. “I just wish everybody knew the scope of the number of tasks he had to do in addition to working with Jamie and overseeing the pool.”

Koss said Johnson is a friend to many who could always count on him to do anything and help out when needed.

“It’s been such a pleasure working with him these past seven years,” she said. “His knowledge, responsiveness, follow-through, and overall friendly and personable disposition will be greatly missed.”

Johnson said, although it might not be every day, he’s “very fortunate” he’ll still see and interact with many of his Ebensburg colleagues as a resident of the borough.

“I’ll definitely miss seeing the members that passed through the doors at the YPCC and getting to talk with them on a daily basis,” he said.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.

The Johnson file

Name: Dirk Johnson

Age: 54

Family: Wife, Sheila; daughter, Jordan; son, Zander; son, Nolan; daughter, Karson

Residence: Ebensburg

Education: Butler Senior High School, Class of 1988; Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Class of 1994

Career: More than 20 years of investment services experience at various companies, including Legg Mason, Dreyfus and Citizens Bank; recreation director for Ebensburg Borough, May 2017-present; executive director for the Westmont Hilltop Recreation Commission, May 2024-present